Dan's opinion: cyclists have dominated SPOTY in recent years but I don't think Armitstead is well-known enough to be in contention here.

Lucy BronzeAge: 24 Sport: Football

England's footballers made history with a best-ever third placed finish at the Women's World Cup in Canada and Bronze was among the stars.

The Manchester City defender was one of eight players shortlisted for the Golden Ball player of the tournament award.

She scored twice as England won new fans - their semi-final attracting a peak audience of 2.4 million viewers back home, despite kicking off at midnight.

What she said: "I'm not aiming to be the best right-back in the world, I'm just aiming to be the best player I can and if they happen to coincide then even better."

Did you know? Bronze used to play the saxophone as a child and still has one at home.

Sports Personality record: First nomination; first female footballer on shortlist.

Dan's opinion: while I think Women's Football is still nowhere near high-profile enough for Bronze to win, it's great to see someone on the shortlist that many people will have actually heard of. Caps off a great year for Bronze.

Jessica Ennis-HillAge: 29 Sport: Athletics

Headline writers called it the "mother of all comebacks" as Ennis-Hill won her second world heptathlon title in August 13 months after the birth of her son Reggie.

She had only decided to compete in Beijing the previous month, having returned to training in the autumn of 2014.

It was the first time in three years she had competed at a major championships in the event which consists of the 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m, long jump, javelin throw and 800m.

What she said: "We spoke about the bronze medal and that it would be amazing for a silver medal, but we never spoke about gold. I kind of thought it was a little beyond me this year."

Did you know? Ennis is a psychology graduate from the University of Sheffield.

Sports Personality record: 2nd, 2012; 3rd 2010; 3rd 2009. Athletics has provided the Sports Personality winner on 17 occasions, with Kelly Holmes the last victor in 2004. Heptathlete Denise Lewis was second in 1998 and 2000.

Dan's opinion: the deserved winner in my opinion, an incredible feat by a terrific lass.

Mo FarahAge: 32 Sport: Athletics

The first man to pull off a triple double - triumphing in two athletics events at two World Championships and an Olympics.

Farah won his third successive 5,000m world gold medal in Beijing in August, having already retained his 10,000m title.

It completed a magnificent seven for the Somali-born runner - his seventh global track title in a row.

What he said: "It's great to make history. I didn't feel great, my hammy (hamstring) was playing up a bit, but the medical team helped me through it."

Did you know? Farah uses an underwater treadmill, which helps him to run extra miles without the same risk of injury as when running outside.

Dan's opinion: Mo's public image may have suffered this year due to him being implicated in a wider drugs scandal, and also by featuring in those awful Quorn adverts, wherein he seems to have forgotten how to speak properly. Great athlete but doubtful he'll make the top three.

Chris FroomeAge: 30 Sport: Cycling

Four years ago, a British cyclist had never won the gruelling three-week Tour de France. Now Froome has done it twice.

He took over where 2012 winner Sir Bradley Wiggins left off by triumphing a year later, and claimed a second victory in July.

The Kenyan-born Team Sky rider showed great dignity as he shrugged off abuse, including being spat at and having urine thrown over him, to prevail again.

What he said: "No sportsman should have to go through what we went through."

Did you know? Froome won a charity bike race aged 13 despite being knocked over by his mother, who was driving alongside.

Sports Personality record: 6th, 2013. Between 2008 and 2012, cycling had three of the five annual award winners.

Dan's opinion: I think Froome would be a more deserving SPOTY winner than any of the previous cycling winners, but for some reason - despite the fact that he's far more likeable than Wiggins (and just as British, by the way) - the public just haven't taken to him. Would love to see him win it, but a podium finish would be delightful.

Tyson FuryAge: 27 Sport: Boxing

In the back yard of a feted world champion who had not lost for 11 years, Manchester fighter Fury claimed one of boxing's biggest upsets.

He became Britain's first world heavyweight champion for six years when outpointing Wladimir Klitschko in Dusseldorf.

Dan's opinion: I love Andy but I don't think he deserves to win this. Outstanding Davis Cup year, of course, and I love him for it, but it's a team sport and a Team of the Year win would suffice. Will probably finish in the top three.

Adam PeatyAge: 20 Sport: Swimming

Gold in the 50m breaststroke meant Peaty was the first man to complete the 50m and 100m double at the World Swimming Championships.

He then helped Great Britain win the mixed 4x100m medley relay gold in a world record time in Kazan.

Peaty, who trains in Derby, has been tipped to be the first British man for 28 years to win Olympic swimming gold at Rio 2016.

What he said: "We fought for every inch. We left it all on the battlefield"- after relay triumph.

Did you know? Peaty was so scared of water as a young child that he would scream with terror if put in the bath.

Sports Personality record: 10th, 2014. Two swimmers have been BBC Sports Personality of the Year - Ian Black (1958) and Anita Lonsbrough (1962).

Dan's opinion: I don't know who this is.

Greg RutherfordAge: 29 Sport: Athletics

Rutherford's gold at the World Championships in Beijing cemented his place as current king of the long jump - adding to his Olympic, European and Commonwealth titles.

Only four other Britons - Daley Thompson, Linford Christie, Sally Gunnell and Jonathan Edwards - have ever held all four titles at the same time.

Rutherford felt ill earlier in the day, with dehydration and a headache, but jumped a stadium record 8.41m - beating his nearest rival by 17cm.

What he said: "It's unbelievable. This was my best ever performance. The stresses this year, I can't even express to you."

Did you know? Rutherford and his father laid a long jump runway and sandpit in his back garden to help with training.

Dan's opinion: glad to see Greg prove those who considered his Olympic win a fluke. It's great to see all three "Super Saturday" Gold winners continue to triumph, but his lack of public profile will see him finish somewhere in the middle here.

Sports Personality record: First nomination. Long jumper Mary Rand won in 1964, while triple jumper Jonathan Edwards took the 1995 award.

Kevin SinfieldAge: 35 Sport: Rugby league

Finished his rugby league career on a high, featuring in Leeds Rhinos' treble-securing Super League Grand Final win against Wigan.

The former England captain spent nearly two decades with the Rhinos, making his debut at 16, and in 2015 became only the fourth rugby league player to pass 4,000 career points.

At the age of 35, the stand-off has switched to union with Yorkshire Carnegie.

What he said: "To top it off with the treble in the final year is unbelievable. It is something I will cherish forever."

Did you know? His sporting hero growing up was former England footballer Gary Lineker.

Sports Personality record: First nomination. A rugby league player has never featured in the top three of the main award, although Wigan (1994) and St Helens (2006) took team of the year honours.

Dan's opinion: he's long been something of a legend to lots of people round my way, but I don't really follow Rugby League. Neither does anyone in the south, and since we don't have telephones in the north, I expect Super Kev to do quite poorly here.

Max WhitlockAge: 22 Sport: Gymnastics

Denying team-mate Louis Smith by 0.01 points, he became the first man to win a gold for Great Britain at the World Gymnastics Championships.

Whitlock, from Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, triumphed in the pommel horse event in Glasgow.

He had won his second silver medal of the championships earlier on Saturday on the floor, and recovered from missing out on an all-around medal where he fell at the start of the high bar routine.

What he said: "It has been a tough year with glandular fever at the beginning of the year and this makes up for everything."

Did you know? Whitlock did not try gymnastics until the age of seven when a friend at the local swimming club suggested it to him.

Sports Personality record: 7th, 2014. A gymnast has never won the BBC award, although Beth Tweddle was fifth in 2009.

Dan's opinion: if Smith had won he'd have had a chance, but not Max. Shame, because his personal medal haul is very impressive.

No Joe Root

I think Jess deserves to win it at least once in her life, and coming back from pregnancy to win the world title - something never done before - is no mean feat.

Yeah I think Root's omission is pretty unforgivable. Yeah alright we got tonked in the ODI World Cup but he was a key component in regaining The Ashes and became the #1 ranked test batsman in the world in the process. As of yesterday he broke the record for most number of runs scored by an England player in a calendar year across all formats.

Farah should win. What he’s accomplished is actually far and away more remarkable than any of the other candidates. A ‘triple double’ in a discipline as punishing as long-distance running is mind-blowing. A truly elite athlete.

It should be him or Jess IMO and whomever misses out this year should get it next year provided they both get their golds.

Ennis for returning from pregnancy to win world title, Farah for being double awesome again, Rutherford for holding all the golds in long jump, Murray for winning a team sport by himself for Britain for the first time in 70 odd years, Hamilton for achieving a 3rd world title, Fury for upsetting the odds and becoming heavyweight champion of the world, Froome for bossing a second Tour de France.

Ennis for returning from pregnancy to win world title, Farah for being double awesome again, Rutherford for holding all the golds in long jump, Murray for winning a team sport by himself for Britain for the first time in 70 odd years, Hamilton for achieving a 3rd world title, Fury for upsetting the odds and becoming heavyweight champion of the world, Froome for bossing a second Tour de France.

It is a strong field. Root should probably be there but he wouldn't deserve the win over some of them. My pick would probably be Farah, he should have won it by now.

Hate to be another old man waving at cloud, but yeah BBC Sperts Porsonality of the Year means absolutely nothing to me these days (any event celebrating British sporting achievement that doesn't even mention Joe Root this year deserves to be rendered irrelevant).

Also why has it become so massive? Used to be a nice, cosy thing in a studio.

Last edited by Coreopsis on Tue Dec 01, 2015 5:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.